About Rachel Wood
A therapist who takes the hard stuff seriously.
Registered Psychotherapist · Summerswood Psychotherapy · Port Perry, Ontario
I became a therapist because I believe that the things people carry — the experiences that shaped how they see themselves and the world — deserve more than a checklist and a coping tip. Real change takes time, honesty, and a space where it's safe to say the things you haven't said out loud.
My practice is built around trauma and the ways it shows up in everyday life: in how people relate to others, how they talk to themselves, and the coping strategies they've developed to get through. I work with people who are functioning well by most measures but feel like something is quietly wrong — and with people who are in the middle of a crisis and need somewhere to land.
Background & training.
I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Honours) from Yorkville University (2025) and am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), licence #19099. I have been working in the mental health field since 2019, building clinical experience across the non-profit, public, and private sectors.
I started my career as a BounceBack Coach with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), delivering structured CBT-based coaching to adults experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression. That work — guiding people through self-directed change, building motivation, and making evidence-based care accessible — shaped the foundation of how I practice. During that time I also volunteered facilitating support groups for depression and served as an advocate for CMHA York and South Simcoe, speaking on podcasts and radio.
From 2023 to 2025 I worked as an Intake Clinician with the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program, conducting biopsychosocial assessments and risk evaluations within the stepped-care model, delivering guided CBT interventions, and collaborating with referring clinicians to ensure continuity of care.
From March 2025 to spring 2026 I worked as an Inpatient Trauma and Addictions Therapist at EHN Guardians Gateway, providing individual and group therapy for first responders with trauma, substance use, and co-occurring mental health concerns. I facilitated evidence-based interventions including CPT, CBT, DBT, and relapse prevention, and led psychoeducational groups focused on sleep, resilience, and trauma recovery within a multidisciplinary team. I left to pursue full-time private practice.
My specialized training includes a certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD through the VA National Center for PTSD — a 2-day intensive co-developed by Dr. Kathleen Chard — and training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Individual Level 1 through the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy (ISEFT), trained directly by Dr. Serine Warwar, Ph.D., and Dr. Leslie Greenberg, Ph.D., the originator of EFT. My broader clinical training includes attachment theory, motivational interviewing, and somatic awareness.
Credentials at a glance.
Registration
- Registered Psychotherapist (RP), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) — Licence #19099
Education
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Honours), Yorkville University, 2025
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours), Marketing Specialization, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2016
Specialized training & certification
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD — Certified, VA National Center for PTSD
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) — Training completed
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) — Individual Level 1 Training, ISEFT
- IAFF Centre of Excellence Clinician Training — International Association of Fire Fighters
- Managing Problematic Anger — Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Clinical experience
- Owner & Therapist — Summerswood Psychotherapy (July 2025–present)
- Inpatient Trauma & Addictions Therapist — EHN Guardians Gateway (March 2025–Spring 2026)
- Intake Clinician — Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (May 2023–March 2025)
- BounceBack Coach — CMHA (September 2019–May 2023)
How I work.
I'm direct without being blunt, and warm without being vague. I'll tell you what I'm noticing, ask questions that might be uncomfortable, and also know when to slow down and sit with something difficult. There's room for humour in the work — not to deflect, but because it's part of being human.
I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Some people need structure and a clear framework. Others need space to talk and be heard before anything else. I pay attention to what you're bringing and adjust accordingly.
You stay in the driver's seat. I'm not here to tell you what to do or who to be. I'm here to help you understand yourself better and make choices that actually fit your life.
Outside the office.
When I'm not seeing clients, you'll find me cycling, adventuring in our '92 camper van with my husband, or at home with our three cats in front of the fire — usually with a good cup of coffee. I live and work in the Durham Region, and I believe that healing doesn't only happen in a chair.
Ready to get started?
A free 15-minute phone consultation is available before you commit to anything. It's a chance to ask questions and get a sense of whether we're a good fit.